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Investigation under way after St. Paul man dies in police handcuffs

St. Paul police are investigating the death of a man in police custody last night.

Police say they were called to a home on Ramsey Street, on the hill leading up to Summit Avenue, about 6:30 last night. A woman called police, who heard her arguing with a man, in what authorities suspect was a drug dispute.

An officer responded and found a man matching the description offered by the caller. Police said the suspect approached police and offered no resistance. He was handcuffed and asked to sit on a curb nearby.

A police spokesman said the man subsequently collapsed. Officers tried to revive him and called for an ambulance. The man was taken to Region's Hospital and died there a short time later.

Police say they've put the three officers at the scene on routine administrative leave, and that the incident is under investigation. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's office is conducting an autopsy to try and find why the 51-year-old man died.